Sony · Cyber-shot

Cyber-shot DSC-P52

Released 2003

A 3.2-megapixel compact camera with a 41–82 mm-equivalent zoom, VGA movies with sound and rechargeable AA batteries.

Type: Compact
Sensor: 1/2.7-type
Megapixels: 3.21
Lens: 41–82 mm equivalent
Video: 640 × 480 at 16.6 fps
Body weight: 218 g

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Specifications

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Image and sensor

Camera type: Compact
Sensor format: 1/2.7-type
Sensor type: Super HAD CCD
Effective resolution: 3.21 MP
Largest image: 2048 × 1536
RAW recording: No
Standard ISO range: 100–400
Sensor detail: 1/2.7-type primary-colour Super HAD CCD; approximately 3.34 million total and 3.21 million effective photosites in exact shared manual; UK specification rounds effective count to 3.2 MP
Image formats: JPEG Exif 2.2 stills with Fine/Standard compression; GIF Clip Motion, MPEG-1 movies and mono voice-with-still mode. No RAW or TIFF recording
ISO detail: Auto or manually selected ISO 100, 200 or 400; no continuous ISO dial
Image processor: 14-bit DXP A/D conversion; Clear Colour NR, Clear Luminance NR and NR Slow Shutter processing

Lens and shooting

Built-in lens: 41–82 mm equivalent
Maximum aperture: f/3.8
Optical zoom: 2×
Lens detail: Physical focal length 6.3–12.6 mm, equivalent to 41–82 mm, F3.8. Full-range autofocus from 8 cm at wide angle or 40 cm at telephoto in exact manual, without separate P72-style Macro selection. Smart Zoom crops only at lower image sizes, up to 6.4× total at VGA; not additional optical zoom
Autofocus: Automatic Multi AF or centre AF with AF-assist illuminator; preset distances 0.5, 1, 3, 7 m and infinity, not continuous manual focusing
Shutter: Automatic shutter range 2–1/1000 second in UK specifications; US datasheet separates normal 1/30–1/1000 from Twilight 2–1/1000. No manual shutter selection
Burst detail: Two-shot Burst captures two full-size stills; precise continuous fps not established. Multi Burst stores sixteen 320×240 subframes in one 1280×960 composite with 1/30, 1/15 or 1/7.5-second intervals, not sixteen full-resolution separate images. UK 1.1-second figure is startup time
Flash: Built-in Auto, forced, off and slow-sync flash, red-eye reduction and daylight fill. ISO Auto recommended range 0.5–3.3 m in exact UK specification and manual; US datasheet conflicting 0.4–2.8 m not substituted. No hot or accessory shoe
Exposure controls: Automatic and Program exposure with ±2 EV in 1/3 EV steps, multi-pattern/spot metering, Twilight, Twilight Portrait, Landscape, Snow and Beach scenes; no aperture/shutter priority or manual exposure

Video

Highest video resolution: 640 × 480 at 16.6 fps
Video detail: MPEG-1 VX 640×480 at 16.6 fps in exact UK specifications; US datasheet rounds to 16 fps. Mail 160×112 at 8 fps in US datasheet. Both record mono sound; clip length limited by card capacity. Zoom scaling cannot change during recording
Audio: Built-in electret condenser microphone and dynamic speaker; mono movie recording and still-image voice memo for 5 seconds after a tap or up to 40 seconds while holding shutter

Screen and viewfinder

Viewfinder: Optical
Screen size: 1.6″
Screen dots: 61,600
Touchscreen: No
Tilting screen: No
Display detail: Fixed 1.6-type TFT with 61600 colour-subpixel dots (280×220); launch rounds to 61000 dots
Viewfinder detail: Optical zoom finder; no electronic finder

Connections and design

Body weight: 218 g
Release detail: Sony Europe announcement dated 3 February 2003 planned March/April European availability; US announcement on 24 February planned April availability. Contemporary 2003 Sony datasheet and catalogue entry establish model year, but exact earliest retail month is unresolved; year precision retained rather than converting a plan into confirmed sale. No explicit direct predecessor link established
Recording media: Memory Stick and Memory Stick PRO serial interface; 16 MB supplied. Exact US datasheet tested PRO through 1 GB, without its high-speed transfer or Access Control security function. Duo requires Memory Stick adaptor as shown in manual
Ports: USB mini-B with normal mass-storage or PTP settings; exact UK table explicitly excludes USB 2.0 Hi-Speed despite US USB 2.0 compatibility wording. Mono A/V OUT minijack with selectable NTSC/PAL; DC IN for optional AC-LS5
Battery life detail: Two supplied NH-AA-DA Ni-MH AA cells, 2100 mAh rated in exact US datasheet; R6 alkaline AA also permitted with lower runtime. Manual average-use test at 25°C: approximately 320 images/160 minutes LCD on or 540/270 off at maximum image size Fine, one shot every 30 seconds, alternating zoom ends, flash every second shot and restart every 10 shots; not labelled CIPA. Sony alkaline comparison 80/40 on or 140/70 off. Continuous 160×112 movies approximately 160 minutes LCD on or 210 off, distinct from still-shooting test
Charging: Supplied external BC-CS2A/CS2B charger: approximately six hours for depleted supplied Ni-MH cells at 25°C; remove cells from camera for charging. Optional BC-CSQ2 quick charger approximately 2.5 hours for two cells or five hours for four, not standard charger performance; optional AC-LS5 supplies camera power
Dimensions: 123.2×57.7×52 mm width×height×depth, excluding protruding portions in exact manual
Weight detail: Approximately 218 g body only in exact UK specifications; approximately 280 g with two batteries, Memory Stick and wrist strap in UK table and shared manual
In the box: Two NH-AA-DA rechargeable AA Ni-MH cells, battery case, BC-CS2A/CS2B charger and mains lead, 16 MB Memory Stick, USB and mono A/V cables, wrist strap, software CD and operating instructions; AC-LS5 optional

Pros and cons

Pros

2× optical zoom and optical viewfinder
VGA movies with mono sound
Supplied rechargeable AA batteries; alkaline AA also supported

Cons

Fixed 1.6-inch screen
No RAW or manual exposure
Optical zoom cannot change while recording movies

Closest rivals

Model	Type	Sensor	Megapixels	Lens	Video	Body weight	Released
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P32	Compact	1/2.7-type	3.21	33 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 16 fps	155 g	2003
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P72	Compact	1/2.7-type	3.21	39–117 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 16.6 fps	197 g	2003
SonyCyber-shot DSC-P8	Compact	1/2.7-type	3.2	39–117 mm equivalent	640 × 480 at 16.6 fps	172 g	2003

Sources

Photo: Sony DSC-P52 photograph credited to Sony Deutschland by digitalkamera.de; complete supplied 450 × 300 canvas and white background retained

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